The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-04-16
r"L,ord. teach us to pray" Luke XII. II.

The manifest theme which these
words of the disciples to our Saviour in
troduce, and to which l call your at
tention, is that of prayer. AS one
turns to the contemplation of nature
and beholds its beauties, wonders and
curiosities, while he straightway des-
cries in everything round and about
him the remarkable adaptation of
means to ends'-that is, how all things
have been created for definite purpose
and are serving the object for which
they were brought into existence-he
is also struck with the marvellous pro-
vision made for animate nature, and
especially so with reference to the ami
NAL kingdom.
In this department of Creation he
recognizes that there is not a single
creature from the microscopic insect to
the largest of animals; from the lowest
form of animal to the highest-but that
is amply provided for according to its
requirements; self -exertion being the
thing alone requisite to the Obtainment
of food, habita ton and protection;
fully verifying the oft repeated state
nt--''that God helps only those who
help themselves"
Furthermore, it can but be readily
realized that there is manner of COM
munication Of some kind existing among
all animals, which plainly shows it to
be means Of positive necessity arising
from the instructive feeling of Deepen
dence which every living creature has
upon its own species, and to no small
degree upon the species that surround
it.
Man, in particular, evinces this to be
so. His natural sense Of dependence
upon his fellows is marked and demon
strative. He is empbatically social
being, and hence from his very attitude,
gives evidence of the great needfulness
of his wonderful power of communica-
ton with his fellow beings.
Now, as must be conceded, all this is
the work of God. Why then, should it
in anywise seem strange, or out of place,
that God should have established a
way of importation between his crea-
ton and himself? Howbeit, this really
does mot signify that God communes
with every species Of his animal king
dom. Man only indicates himself to be
the creature whom God has favored
with this blessed privilege. Into him
God "breathed the breath of life and
he became living soul''-an immortal
being fashioned in the likeness of his
Creator. Thus man exhibits his SUI
preme transcendency over every living
being, and makes manifest why he alone
is ordained TO commune with his Ma
keF stamped with the image of God,
which is a prerogative accorded to no
other creature Of the universe.
That fundamentally by which man
is enabled to hold converse with his
Maker, is termed ''Prayer'-the act Of
petition, supplication or devotion to the
infinite God.
1t, therefore, shows itself to be ex-
pressed by either thought, word or act.
The poet Montgomery, very aptly
phrases this in the following stanzas:
Prayer is the SOULS sincere desire,
Uttered or unexpressed,
The motion of hidden fire
That trembles in tho breast.
Prayer is the burden of sigh,
The falling of tear,
The upward CHANGING of an eye,
When none but God is near.
Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try;
Prayer the sublimest strains that reach
The Majesty on high.
Wherefore it is natural for a man to
pray. Feeling the existence of SUI
preme power or being, according to his
conception-be it the craven image, the
sun, the moon, or the true and everliv-
ing Goldman ''worships and bows
down. And no real denial can be
made of this, for it is an historical truth
that there is not race on the face of
the globe, but that in some form or
other believes in and worships a SUI
preme Deity.
There certainly now appears no
more evident thing than that God had
an all-wise purpose in the institution
of prayer. For when the true idea Of
the Almighty has been reached-cOm-
munion with him, wherein is derived
his course, guidance and strength-be-
tokens itself to be but another and in
estimable means given man to assist
him in the promotion of his general
welfare, spiritually and materially, in
every exigency Of life.
Nevertheless, combining the province
Of the discourse to such as have veri-
table apprehension Of God, there are
those who doubt not only the efficacy
of prayer, but even its reality also. 1t
is declared by them to be but product
of the imagination-the benefits de-
rived, if such theresults may be called,
being but the issues of personal efforts
put forth under a state of Illusion. and